Al Zabarah is an abandoned site in the Persian Gulf whose pear-trading merchants of Qtub tribes after its destruction in 1811 moved away to other regions in Kuwait.

Distinguishing importance of this heritage site in Qatar, Unesco says, ‘What distinguished Al Zubarah from the other trading towns of the Persian Gulf is that it lasted a comparatively short space of time, secondly that it was abandoned, thirdly that it has lain largely untouched since being covered by the desert sands, and fourthly that its wider context can still be read through the remains of small satellite settlements and the remains of possibly competing towns nearby along the coast’. This short statement of Unesco does not help in identifying this historically abandoned settlement’s trading people’s ancient origin. Story of urbanisation behind all world heritage sites and their architectural beauty, design, planning and management does not always speak of history attached to the people who fought the disadvantageous situations at the time of their arrival on their lands. Unesco here marks, ‘What makes them exceptional is the evidence they present as a result of complete abandonment over the last three generations….and this period can now be seen as a significant moment in human history’.

Qatar finds its root in ‘atar’ of the Avesta which means ‘fire’; it identifies  Vedic ‘atri’ and ‘hotra’ means ‘agni’ or ‘fire’; the Qtub is identified with ‘tub’ or ‘tomba’ or the region of Bronze Mountain and Bronze Sea of the Bible and Tamab parbata of Indian puranas for which the word Tibet means country if red-faced people. This name significantly identifies various names like Tibet, Tiber, Tuber, and Tiberus and Tiberius etc. and all of them anciently linked to this Bronze Mountain region which the Buddha passed when left Magadha for the place of his enlightenment.

The name has many historical links that pinpoints its relationship with Kai Wat Chedi and Wutu or Wi region of ancient texts. Name Al Zabarah itself shows that it is a place of worship because it is tagged with term ‘Al’; thus it marks ‘Zaba or Jaba and Bariha or Barah of ancient history; Qal’at Murair fort near the heritage site provides a better clue of the region when name Murair marks Merois or mayura or murari of Indian purans linking it with two other places: Coili and Wat. Kuwait again finds its ancient history linked with Dawal, Kai, Wat and Chedi.

Pearl production’s history links ancient Kalinga and the Maha Thupa of Sri Lanka in a unique manner that makes a wonderful reading of the world history.